Index guide



Feb. 3, 1948. c. E. JONES 2,435,221

1 INDEX GUIDE Filed Feb. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I5 C/Zdf/66EJ07Z65,

Feb. 3, 1948. c. E. JONES 2,435,221

INDEX GUIDE Filed Feb. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. Charla? Z Jam Feb. 3, 1948. c. E. JONES 2,435,221

. immx GUIDE Filed Feb. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IQNVENTOR. v C/zarleaEJom Patented Feb. 3, 1 948 INDEX GUIDE Charles E. Jones, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rockwell-Barnes Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationFebruary 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,347

3 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with index guides of the type commonly used in filing arrangements of various sorts for separating cards, sheets, pages and the like, into orderly groups.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an index guide of new and improved construction in which the projecting tab for the reception of the indicia bearing label is constructed as a hollow integral extension of the guide and is shaped and finished off in such manner as to facilitate the insertion or removal of cards or sheets immediately in front of or behind the guide without interference from the tab.

Another object of the invention is to provide an index guide of the character described in which the tab for the reception of the label can be localized at any desired point lengthwise of the exposed edge of the guide after the tab has been formed as an integral part of the guide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide of the character described which can be made inexpensively by extrusion from transparent plastic material.

While the foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full undestanding of the new index guide and method of making the same.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein by way of exemplification, but it will of course be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extruded plastic strip, showing the manner in which the index guide is made therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a short section of the extruded strip;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the strip, showing in detail the shape of the flat tubular label receiving portion;

Fig. 4 is a face view of a length of the extruded strip, after the same has been cut transversely to the desired size;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same length of the extruded strip, showing the way in which either one or both of the ends of the flat tubular portion may be cut away to provide a tab of the desired length at the desired position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the index guide after the formation of the tab;

Fig. '7 is a face view of the finished index guide, showing a label being inserted in the tab;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end view of the tubular portion of the guide, showing a somewhat modified design; and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of another modified design.

The index guide is shown in its finished form in Figs. 6 and 7. It consists of a generally rectangular sheet ll] of transparent plastic material which is provided at one point along its exposed edge Ii with a projecting tab l2.

The tab I2 is constructed as a relatively thick integral portion of the sheet 10 and is of flat openended tubular formation. It is adapted to receive a suitable indicia bearing label 12, the label being inserted endwise into the hollow interior of the tubular formation from either end. The front and rear surfaces l3 and Hi of the tab are smooth and merge gradually without interruption into the corresponding surfaces i5 and [6 of the sheet, in curved fillet-like formations, as shown at IT in Fig. 3 and at IT and I1 in Figs. 8 and 9.

The index guide can be made of any well known plastic material. It is preferably made by extruding such material in a long continuous strip l8, as shown in Fig. 1, and in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The hollow tubular portion I9 from which the tabs are subsequently cut is formed by extrusion in the same operation, along one of the longitudinal edges of the strip. After the strip has been extruded in this manner it is cut transversely into lengths 20 of the desired guide size. One of such lengths is shown in Fig. 4.

The flat tubular portion I9 formed along one of the longitudinal edges of each of the lengths 20 is cut 'back at one or both ends, depending on the desired location of the tab, to provide a relatively short tab in exactly the position needed. In cutting back either or both ends of the tubular portion IS the length 20 may be placed under a tab cutting die, as shown at 2| in Fig. 5, the die being formed in two adjustably spaced parts and being shiftable bodily one way or the other to cut away the ends of the tubular formation to the extent desired. The internal recess in the tubular portion I 9 is preferably of relatively wide thin cross section and is adapted to receive a paperlike index tab.

By employing this method index guides of the finest quality can be manufactured at but very little expense, with label holders at any desired location, or at progressively different locations, without the necessity of having to separately attach such holders to the guides. The complete The ends of the tabs l2 are preferably; outalong lines which are curved to merge gradually into the exposed edge H of the guide; whereby to eliminate as far as possible any sharp corners;

In Fig. 8 a modification is shown in which the tab I2 is disposed at a slight angle to the ,plane,--

of the guide, while in Fig. 9 another modification is shown in which the tab I 2 i offset forwardly (or rearwardly, if desired) with respect to the plane-20f the guide, bringingr the tab flush: with respect to one 10f" the surfaces-ofthe guides 1.1An index guideiconsistings of -ai length ,Of material of a single thickness having along one edge f an" integrally formed tubular label holder, said length of material and label holder being form ed from Q a single, flat: extrudedrplastic strip, said'label holder being slightly thicker than the body-of the guideand-having flat outer surfaces which-gradually merge into theadjoining-sur faces of the body to -provide smoothcontinuoussurfaces devoid of any-n lateralobstructions; said label .holder being: cut away at amend: thereof .to provide a label holder of predetermined length:

2. .Anqindex guide consistingrofalengthof materialof a-single thickness; having along oneiedge: an integrallyaformedtubular labeljholder, said lengthof: material and label-holder. beingformed.

from-asingle fiat extruded plastic strip saidlabel;

holder being, slightly thicker than the bodyof the guide and havingfiat-outer surfaces which gradually merge into the" adjoining surfaces of thebody to provide smooth continuous surfaces devoid of any lateral obstructions, said thick portion being disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the body and having a part thereof cut away to provide at a predetermined location a holder for receiving a label.

3. An index guide comprising a generally rectangula'r" sheet? of material 10f a single thickness, said=sheet of material being formedfrom a single flat extruded plastic strip, said sheet having an integral portion along one edge thereof which is relatively thicker than the body of the sheet, said thick portion having opposed exterior surfaces integrally-joined with-the adjacent surfaces of the waverin sheet and being characterized by an interiialrecessof relatively wide thin cross secvtionwhioh-is:adapted to receive endwise therein an index label of generally conforming cross sec- "tio'n; said' thick portion having a part thereof cut away to provide at a predetermined location along? the edge 'of thegllide w holder for receiving aglabelz CHARLES E.- JONES;

REFERENCES CITED.

The fol-lowing references areof record in the file of 'th'is patent:

UNITED STATES ,BATENTS Name. Date Morrell Dec. 3, 1935 Reichel Apr. 11-, 1944 Rand; 1- Feb. 18, 1919 Hufiman- .'Feb.- 24'; 1931 Davis- Sept; 6; 1932 Number 

